I’ve been thinking a whole lot recently about how I don’t have many opportunities to be alone. Understandably, given my line of work, I should have written my previous statement, “I don’t take many opportunities to be alone?” but I’ll take this chance to evade responsibility for a moment.
I have been thinking about what it means to be alone, in a good way, because we’ve got a new baby on the way, I’m beginning my second year as an assistant professor, and I’m beginning a new discipleship program at my church. These things don’t necessarily represent anything new in my life (except for the baby), more than they represent greater responsibility in the directions I’m already taking. It’s this greater responsibility that has me thinking about the need for quality alone time.
The reason I’m focused on alone time is not really about being by myself: rather it’s about creative solitude. Creative solitude is a critical element of personal development, to say nothing of leadership. I am reminded of this by William Deresiewicz. In a 2009 lecture to West Point plebes, he unlocked the wisdom in the apparent contradiction that leadership necessitates solitude. I have saved his lecture to my Instapaper, and refer to it when I need encouragement to invest the necessary time in focusing my mind.
The most important example I can think of as an examplar of one who practices creative solitude is the Lord Jesus. The desert fathers, Dallas Willard, John Maxwell, and many others have commended His example to those of us who hope to grow in every dimension of our lives. Reflecting on my need for creative solitude has led me to a few key questions, which i hope to move towards answering as I keep learning and growing: How can I use the time by myself to learn new things about my friends and family? Identify ways to be of greater service to my community and colleagues? Surrender to God in the deepest parts of my soul? Discern where He is moving and figure out how to go there with Him? and Seek out what academic and industrial contributions I can make with my time and energy?
For me, I have been most successful in finding productive and creative solitude after weekday runs, listening to Anne Sophie Mutter while on the train, or reading one of my favorite statistics books. What works for you? Hit me with a tweet or comment.